Liverpool's successful pursuit of PSV Eindhoven striker Cody Gakpo came as quite a surprise to most, considering for months he seemed destined to join fellow Premier League giants Manchester United.
However, what many may have forgotten is the Reds arguably had an inside advantage all along - strong ties with the selling club. Liverpool have a former PSV youth coach within their own coaching staff in Jurgen Klopp's right-hand man Pep Lijnders, who has known of Gakpo since the forward was eight years old.
During his time with the Eredivise giants, Lijnders was responsible for coordinating and overseeing the signings of players to the club's youngest age group in the under-nines. It was at that age group when Gakpo joined PSV, though Lijnders left shortly after.
